Modeless video and still frame capture

Abstract

In an embodiment, an electronic device may be configured to capture still frames during video capture, but may capture the still frames in the 4×3 aspect ratio and at higher resolution than the 16×9 aspect ratio video frames. The device may interleave high resolution, 4×3 frames and lower resolution 16×9 frames in the video sequence, and may capture the nearest higher resolution, 4×3 frame when the user indicates the capture of a still frame. Alternatively, the device may display 16×9 frames in the video sequence, and then expand to 4×3 frames when a shutter button is pressed. The device may capture the still frame and return to the 16×9 video frames responsive to a release of the shutter button.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 an image sensor; 
 a display device; 
 a memory; and 
 an integrated circuit coupled to the image sensor, the memory, and the display device, wherein:
 the integrated circuit is configured to output frames of a first video sequence responsive to a first plurality of frames received from the image sensor to the memory; 
 the first video sequence frames have a first aspect ratio and a first resolution dependent on a display standard to which the video sequence is being generated; 
 the integrated circuit is configured to output a preview video sequence for display on the display device responsive to the first plurality of frames and concurrent with the first video sequence; 
 the preview video sequence has frames with the first aspect ratio and a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 responsive to a user depressing a still capture button on the device, the integrated circuit is configured to change the first aspect ratio of the preview video sequence to a second aspect ratio associated with a still frame; and 
 the integrated circuit is configured to capture the still frame and return to the first aspect ratio for the preview video sequence responsive to the user releasing the still capture button. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to retain a scale and placement of the frames at the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio. 
     
     
       3. The device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to fade in a portion of the frames of the preview video sequence that are outside of the first aspect ratio responsive to the user depressing the still capture button. 
     
     
       4. The device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to fade in the portion with a translucent letterbox effect to delineate the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio. 
     
     
       5. The device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to fade out the portion responsive to the user releasing the still capture button. 
     
     
       6. The device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the portion is faded in to a first brightness that is less than a second brightness of a remaining portion that is within the first aspect ratio to delineate the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio. 
     
     
       7. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to continue outputting the frames of the first video sequence to the memory during a time that the still capture button is depressed. 
     
     
       8. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first video sequence has a frame rate that is higher than the preview video sequence. 
     
     
       9. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the still capture button is a physical button on the device. 
     
     
       10. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the still capture button is a virtual button displayed by the display device. 
     
     
       11. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the integrated circuit is configured to capture the still frame at a third resolution that is greater than the first resolution. 
     
     
       12. In a device including an image sensor, a display device, a memory, and an integrated circuit coupled to the image sensor, the memory, and the display device, a method comprising:
 outputting frames of a first video sequence from the integrated circuit to the memory responsive to a first plurality of frames received from the image sensor, wherein the first video sequence frames have a first aspect ratio and a first resolution dependent on a display standard to which the video sequence is being generated; 
 outputting a preview video sequence for display on the display device by the integrated circuit responsive to the first plurality of frames and concurrent with the first video sequence, wherein the preview video sequence has frames with the first aspect ratio and a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 responsive to a user depressing a still capture button on the device, changing the first aspect ratio of the preview video sequence to a second aspect ratio associated with a still frame by the integrated circuit; and 
 capturing the still frame and returning to the first aspect ratio for the preview video sequence by the integrated circuit responsive to the user releasing the still capture button. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising:
 retaining a scale and placement of the frames at the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio by the integrated circuit. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising:
 fading in a portion of the frames of the preview video sequence that are outside of the first aspect ratio by the integrated circuit responsive to the user depressing the still capture button. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the fading in comprises displaying the portion with a translucent letterbox effect to delineate the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 14  further comprising:
 fading out the portion by the integrated circuit responsive to the user releasing the still capture button. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the fading in comprises fading in to a first brightness that is less than a second brightness of a remaining portion that is within the first aspect ratio to delineate the first aspect ratio within the frames of the preview video sequence at the second aspect ratio. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 12  further comprising:
 continuing to output the frames of the first video sequence to the memory during a time that the still capture button is depressed. 
 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first video sequence has a frame rate that is higher than the preview video sequence. 
     
     
       20. An integrated circuit comprising:
 an image signal processor (ISP) have a sensor interface configured to receive a first plurality of frames from an image sensor and circuitry configured to output frames of a first video sequence responsive to the first plurality of frames, wherein the first video sequence frames have a first aspect ratio and a first resolution dependent on a display standard to which the video sequence is being generated; 
 a memory controller coupled to the ISP and configured to write the first plurality of frames to memory; 
 the ISP further configured to output a preview video sequence for display on a display device responsive to the first plurality of frames and concurrent with the first video sequence, wherein the preview video sequence has frames with the first aspect ratio and a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; 
 a display controller configured to display the preview video sequence on the display, wherein the display controller is coupled to the ISP; 
 responsive to a user depressing a still capture button on the device, the ISP is configured to change the first aspect ratio of the preview video sequence to a second aspect ratio associated with a still frame; and 
 responsive to the user releasing the still capture button, the ISP is configured to capture the still frame by writing the still frame to the memory through the memory controller, and the ISP is further configured to return to the first aspect ratio for the preview video sequence.